2. Table of Contents
1. Blackboard Interface 8. Course Availability
2. Control Panel
9. Additional Resources
3. Add Tools to the
Course Menu
4. Add Content in a
Content Area
5. Assignments
6. Announcements
7. Contacts
3. Course Menu- Use the buttons to navigate to various areas of the course.
Breadcrumb Trail- A trail of links that tells you where you are in the course
Content Window- Content will display here
Control Panel- For instructors only- control course options, enter grades and more
Content Areas- This is where you will add content and assessments to a course
Blackboard
Interface
4. Control Panel
The control panel is where you will go to manage your course,
including accessing the grade center, setting tool and course
availability, and copying a current course into a new one.
Search for files you’ve uploaded into Blackboard under
Files.
Access the tools in your course from Course Tools
including discussion boards, emails, and tests.
Evaluation allows you to set an early warning system,
view course reports, and work with the performance
dashboard.
The Grade Center is where you will access and work with
student grades.
Users and Groups allows you to control user availability
and create groups.
Under Customization, you can make your course
available, choose the page where users will enter your
course, and control Tool availability.
Go to Packages and Utilities to copy or export a course, or
import a cartridge or previous course.
The Help area has links to help, support and tutorials.
5. Add Tools to your Course Menu
The Course Menu in your Blackboard shell is customizable. If you will be using a tool (like a Journal or
Wiki) in your course, consider adding a button to the course menu for students to easily locate. To add a
content area or tool to the course menu:
1. Click on the +
symbol at the top
left
2. Choose the type of
area you want to add to
the menu
3. Type a name for the new button, and choose the
type of tool you want- make sure you click the
check box that makes the area available to users
4. The button will show up at the bottom of the course
menu- you can move it by clicking and dragging the arrow
next to the item
6. Adding Content to a Content Area
•
Add content to a course in a content area.
The Course Content and Syllabus folders will
be in your Course Menu. You can add
additional content areas the same way you
add course tools.
The content you add is the information
you want your students to consume.
These are things like videos, documents,
or pictures.
•
In the content area, mouse over the Build
Content button, and choose the type of
content you would like to add.
The process for adding files, web links,
and videos is similar to that of adding an
item.
•
The Item is the most common type of
content. When you add an item, you will
need to specify a title. Then, type
information into the text box and add files.
•
Standard options allow you to choose
whether or not the item is available, track the
number of views, and specify time and date
restrictions if you like.
•
When you are finished, hit submit to add the
content.
Adding content items will not create a
column in your gradebook. The
Assessments button is where you can
add assignments and tests- these items
create assignment links where students
can upload or input content, and will
create a column in the gradebook.
8. Assignments
To create an assignment, go to
a Content area, and mouse
over the Assessments button.
Choose Assignment.
Then process for creating an
assignment is the same as
adding an Item, but there are
additional options
-
You must add points
possible to an assignment
before you hit submit.
To grade student assignment
submissions, you will look in
the gradebook for this icon:
You can click this and choose
the attempt you would like to
grade for that student.
Add Points Possible.
You can also choose to add a rubric
Click to make the assignment available
Specify student attempts
here
If you set date
limitations,
make sure the
availability is
clicked above.
Set a due date
and time
Hit submit when done
9. Announcements
Announcements are a way to
let your students know what
is going on. They are good for
communication in between
classes, directions, and
general information.
When you create an
announcement, an email will
be sent to your students at
their Jeffco email address.
To create an announcement,
click on Announcements in
the course menu, then click
on Create Announcement.
Then add a subject, and type
your message in the text box.
Finally, choose your date
restrictions, and click submit
to create the announcement.
Add a subject
Type your announcement in this text box
Choose date restrictions (or click
Not Date Restricted)
Click to send an email
immediately
Click browse to add a link to another
area of the course if you like
Click submit to create
10. Contacts
The contacts button can
be used to provide your
contact information,
office hours and other
information about you
to your students.
• Click on the Faculty
Information button in
the Course Menu.
• Choose Create
Contact.
• If you choose to
insert a picture, make
sure it displays
properly.
• Fill out the form, and
hit submit.
Insert
contact
information
here
Type office location here
Type office hours here
Give information about yourself- education,
experience, hobbies, family, etc.
Make available
Insert a picture, or a link
to your website if you like
11. Course Availability
Your course will not become
available to students until you
change the availability.
While you are building your shell,
students won’t be able to access the
materials. Once you finish getting
your course ready for the semester,
you will make it available through
the Customization button on your
control panel.
On your Control Panel, go to
Customization, then click on
Properties. Set Availability is #2.
Simply click Yes, then hit submit to
make the course available
Click Yes
12. Additional Resources
Using the instructions in this module will get you started, but
there are many topics not covered here. If you are interested
in learning more about using Blackboard, here are some
resources:
Blackboard On Demand Learning Center- This site has videos and
how-to materials for all of Blackboard’s features
Blackboard on YouTube- Blackboard’s YouTube channel has great On
Demand Tutorials, and also videos on using Blackboard to build a better
education experience.
Blackboard Help- an online, searchable manual.
